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Health Care Reform: Americans WANT a Public Option!

A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll (taken September 29 through October 1, 2009) found a majority of Americans prefer that Congress pass a Democrat-only health care bill that includes a public option over a bipartisan bill that does not. In other words, over half the country would prefer Congress pass health legislation that includes a strong public health insurance option that is supported only by Democrats, to a bill with no public option that has the support of Democrats and a handful of Republicans.

Wile it’s true that other polls have found majorities prefer a bipartisan bill, previous polls asked only “Do you want a bipartisan bill, or a partisan one?” without explaining that a bipartisan bill might not contain a public option. This latest poll made this political fact clear. So when Americans are asked whether they’re prepared to sacrifice the public option for the sake of having a bipartisan bill, the majority said No. So, it seems no matter what the media are saying, the American people have made it clear they want a strong public health insurance option.

This finding holds true for most Democrats and many independents; 87% of Democrats and 47% of independents place greater importance on achieving a public option than on bipartisanship. As far as the majority of Americans are concerned, any bill that passes without a public option is nothing but more ineffectual tinkering with a broken system. Blue Dogs take note!